NHA striving to connect cities

ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) is working on 17 road infrastructure projects in under-developed areas of the country, including Balochistan, an official of NHA told APP on Tuesday.

The NHA official said that for dualisation of 408km Khuzdar-Chaman section of N-25, including rehabilitation of existing Khuzdar-Kalat section and land acquisition, Rs2 billion has been earmarked in the current fiscal year under the Public Sector Development Programme.

He said Rs1,500 million has been earmarked for 200km Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab section of Gwadar-Rattodero while for improvement and widening of balance work of 51km Kararo Wad section of N-25, Rs1 billion has been allocated.

He said that for 247km Kalat-Quetta- Chaman section of N-25, Rs500 million has been earmarked.

For National Highway Development Sector Improvement Programme, a total of Rs1.25 billion has been allocated and Killa Saifullah-Loralai-Waigum Rud section of N-70 is being rehabilitated under this programme.

He said that Rs500 million has been allocated for rehabilitation and improvement of 120km Quetta-Dhadhar section of N-65 whereas Rs1 billion has also been earmarked for 41km Sanan-Aab-e-Gum connecting road between Sibi and Kachhi districts.

The official said that Rs1 billion has also been earmarked for widening and improvement of 459km Hoshab-Nag-Basima-Surab section of N-85.

He said that Rs1.25 billion has been allocated for construction of 81km Zhob-Mughalkot section of N-50. Moreover, Rs5 billion has been earmarked for Zhob to Kuchlak Road, including land acquisition and Nokundi-Musakhel-Panjgoor Road, he said.